Wyomissing, Exeter, Wilson and Fleetwood score wins in Berks girls soccer quarterfinals

October 14th marked the conclusion of the Berks Girls Soccer League playoffs, as the final four teams were determined after Saturday’s quarterfinals.

The top-ranked Wyomissing team dominated their match against the eighth-seeded Hamburg, securing a 4-0 victory at Flannery Field. Led by junior goalie Ellie Pat Benedict, who made a single save throughout the game, the Spartans celebrated their ninth shutout win of the season.

During the first half, sophomore Dulce Lytle and senior Annie McCaffrey scored two goals, giving the Spartans a comfortable 2-0 lead over the Hawks (14-4-1). Junior Kyla Lytle contributed by assisting McCaffrey’s goal.

In the second half, defending Berks champion Wyomissing further extended their lead. McCaffrey scored another goal, this time through a penalty kick, while Dulce Lytle added another goal to the scoreboard. McCaffrey was credited with the assist on Lytle’s goal.

Spartans coach Rachel Hoffman expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I thought we came out with good energy following a tough loss Thursday against Trinity. There are little things we need to focus on for the semifinal game, but overall, I was satisfied with how we played.”

In the upcoming semifinals, the Spartans will host the fourth-seeded Exeter team on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Exeter secured their spot by defeating the fifth-seeded Gov. Mifflin with a 1-0 victory at Reiffton. Junior Perla Alvarado-Rueda scored the game-winning goal in the second half, assisted by sophomore Mackenzie Mentzer. With only three shots on goal, the Eagles managed to secure their seventh shutout win of the season thanks to junior goalkeeper Taylor Brownback’s nine saves.

Despite adverse weather conditions and tough losses throughout the week, Alvarado-Rueda expressed her joy over the victory, saying, “I didn’t even grasp that the ball went in until a couple of seconds later. It was cold, it was raining, the ball was hard to control — but we did it, we won. Our week was full of tough losses, but as a team, we stayed together and are off to the semifinals.”

Meanwhile, at West Lawn, the second-seeded Wilson team defeated the seventh-seeded Daniel Boone with a score of 4-0. The Bulldogs scored two goals in each half and limited the Blazers (11-6) to only two shots on goal. Senior Emmi McLain and junior Brieana Sheaffer scored in the first half, followed by freshman Kaitlin Boston and another goal from Sheaffer in the second half. Freshman Claire Troutman provided the assist for Boston’s goal. In goal, freshman Alana Keller saved two shots to secure the Bulldogs’ 12th shutout win of the year.

For the semifinals, Wilson will host the sixth-seeded Fleetwood team. Fleetwood earned their spot by defeating the third-seeded Schuylkill Valley 3-1 at Leesport. Scoring twice in the first half and once in the second half, the Tigers demonstrated their prowess. Senior Bridgette Daczewitz contributed with a goal and an assist, while freshman Sophie Toucher and senior Ava Sallee each scored a goal. Sophomore Jalina Gonzalez provided an assist. Freshman Presleigh Finkbiner scored the lone goal for the Panthers (16-2-1) with an assist from freshman Bailey Pekuri. Junior goalkeeper Abby Rowley recorded five saves.

Tigers coach Bill Lownes expressed his pride in the Fleetwood team, stating, “I’m very proud of our Fleetwood girls’ soccer team. It was a well-fought win over a good and young Schuylkill Valley team in difficult weather conditions.”